Chinese Researchers visit IoA for Ceramics Analysis Training

7 May 2013

Between 17-28 April 2013, researchers Zhang Shangxin and Shao Wenbin from the Museum of Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum visited IoA for the purpose of specialist training in archaeological ceramic analysis.

Zhang and Shao attended Patrick Quinn's intensive short course on 'Thin Section Petrography of Archaeological Ceramics: Methods and Application', as well as receiving additional training in the Woflson Laboratories on geochemical and SEM analysis. Their training forms part of a joint research initiative between the UCL Institute of Archaeology and the Museum of Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum, entitled 'Imperial Logistics: The Making of the Terracotta Army' that is funded by the British Academy, Rio Tinto and the Institute for Archaeo-Metallurgucal Studies. In the next step of the project, Patrick will travel to the Museum of Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum near Xi'an, China to set up a laboratory for ceramic analysis. Once in operation the lab will enable IoA and Museum researchers to undertake ceramic compositional analysis of a variety of artefacts from the Mausoleum complex, including fragments of the Terracotta Warriors themselves. Important questions center on the ceramic technology of these impressive and numerous artefacts and the organisation of their production between 246-209 BC. Further information of this project can be found at Imperial Logistics Website.